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What is a "down beat"?

By armoreddragon Asked Apr 7 2005 2:56PM
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Top Answer out of 5

by gnargnar on Nov 8, 2006 at 4:10 pm Permalink

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when white people clap/snap/count
haha that sounds kinda racist but it's not really. it just seems to be the way things go.

music joke:
how do you find a white guy in the crowd at a jazz gig?
he's the guy snapping on 1 and 3
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Avatar ChandaDiane - est. 1975 Dec, 21 2007 at 05:55 PM
lol, good one
Avatar singwell-is off researching a lot Dec, 21 2007 at 06:08 PM
you are right...then there are many white guys who snap on 2 and 4. even worse. LOL

Answer 2 out of 5

by Jack Scotty on Apr 27, 2005 at 11:28 am Permalink

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In unformal terms the phrase "down beat" refers to the very first beat of the first measure of a song or a musical passage. In an orchestra if a particular instrument or section has an extended period of rest (where they arent playing) the first beat of the first measure of the next phrase of music where they begin playing again is referred to as the down beat for that passage.

If you ever observe an orchestra or a jazz ensamble perform, the director will always keep the band in sync by swinging his hand or baton in the downward position indicating that this is where the first beat of the next measure begins.
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Answer 3 out of 5

by mister_c on Apr 10, 2005 at 6:11 am Permalink

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A bar of music is typically made up of four beats. Each group of two beats is further divided into one down-beat and one up-beat.

So, in the case of a 4/4 time signature:

1(down) 2(up) 3(down) 4(up)

These two groups of down-beats and up-beats are known as "rhythm units". Imagine tapping your foot in time to a piece of music. The down-beats are the beats where your foot hits the floor.

In 3/4 time signature (three beats to the bar) there is one down-beat followed by two up-beats.
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Answer 4 out of 5

by Anonymous on Sep 10, 2006 at 4:45 pm Permalink

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The first beat of the bar (measure). It is the strongest beat of the bar, and thus given the most emphasis by the downward movement in a conducting pattern.
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Answer 5 out of 5

by CuppyCake is actually missing Ohio... on Dec 21, 2007 at 5:54 pm Permalink

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A downbeat is the very first beat of each measure, and in most cases it has more emphasis placed on it than the others.
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